From the Office of Senator Kerry

Friday, September 5, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC – In response to a request by Senator John Kerry that it investigate whether the Bush Administration exerted political influence over its management of the Klamath River Basin, the Inspector General of the Department of Interior has announced that it has launched an investigation into the matter.

“The Bush Administration has acted as if federal agencies like the Interior Department are a division of the Republican National Committee and at their disposal to give out political favors. The Klamath decision was but one more example of politics dictating policy in the Bush Administration,” said Kerry. “The Klamath decision should have been based on law and science and not a political operative’s agenda, polls, and campaign priorities.”

A July 30, 2003, Wall Street Journal article detailed the involvement of White House political strategist Karl Rove in the dispute over water management issues in the Klamath River Basin, which stretches from Southern Oregon to the Northern coast of California. Rove apparently began his efforts with a presentation to Interior Department officials connecting regulatory actions – including the Klamath issue – to Republican prospects in the coming elections. Based on these reports, it appears that Rove sought to influence Department of Interior decision-making processes by injecting political considerations into what should have been questions of science and law.

In a letter to Kerry, the Office of Inspector General stated that it will investigate:

1. What would be the normal regulatory process in a matter such as this, assuming that this was an Administrative Procedures Act-governed regulatory matter.

2. What actually did happen in the administrative process in the Klamath Basin matter.

3. How the Klamath Basin matter deviated from the norm (if at all) with special attention being paid to:

a. The science b. Any suppressed information c. Any evidence of political interference

“The agreement by the Interior Department’s Inspector General to investigate this matter to see if political pressure from the White House intimidated staff and influenced policy is a positive development and the appropriate first step. I anxiously await their decision,” Kerry concluded.

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